Jerry Williams (radio)
Encyclopedia
Jerry Williams was an American radio host, one of the originators of the talk radio
format.
His radio career spanned more than 50 years, beginning in 1946 at WCYB
near the Tennessee/Virginia border
,
followed by stints at WBIG
in Philadelphia, WMEX
in Boston, and WBBM
in Chicago.
In 1968 he returned to Boston on WBZ
for eight years. In 1976 he was on WMCA
in New York, then back to Philadelphia: this time on WWDB
,
where he became the first FM radio talk host. In 1981 Jerry came back to Boston again, on WRKO
.
He founded the (now-defunct) National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts.
Jerry Williams was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1996.
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format.
His radio career spanned more than 50 years, beginning in 1946 at WCYB
WZAP
WZAP is a Religious and Southern Gospel formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Bristol, Virginia. The station serves the Tennessee Tri-Cities area with an AM signal at 690 kilohertz. WZAP is owned and operated by RAM Communications, Inc.-History:...
near the Tennessee/Virginia border
Bristol, Virginia
Bristol is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Washington County, Virginia, Bristol, Tennessee, and Sullivan County, Tennessee....
,
followed by stints at WBIG
WBIG
WBIG may refer to:* WBIG-FM, a radio station licensed to Washington, D.C., United States* WBIG , a radio station licensed to Aurora, Illinois, United States* Welsh Benefits Investigation Group...
in Philadelphia, WMEX
WMEX
WMEX may refer to:*WNHI, a radio station licensed to Farmington, New Hampshire, United States, which used the call sign WMEX from February 2001 to June 2008...
in Boston, and WBBM
WBBM
WBBM may refer to any of four stations in the Chicago, Illinois area owned and operated by CBS:*WBBM-TV, a television station licensed to Chicago and affiliated with the CBS Television Network...
in Chicago.
In 1968 he returned to Boston on WBZ
WBZ
WBZ may refer to:* WBZ , the United States' first commercial radio station originally broadcast from Springfield, Massachusetts, now licensed to Boston, Massachusetts, United States...
for eight years. In 1976 he was on WMCA
WMCA
WMCA, 570 AM, is a radio station in New York City, most known for its "Good Guys" Top 40 era in the 1960s. It is currently owned by Salem Communications and plays a Christian radio format...
in New York, then back to Philadelphia: this time on WWDB
WWDB
WWDB, 860 AM, is a daytime-only radio station based in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania that broadcasts brokered programming and the satellite feed of ESPN Deportes Radio....
,
where he became the first FM radio talk host. In 1981 Jerry came back to Boston again, on WRKO
WRKO
WRKO is a radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in Burlington, Massachusetts, next to the Burlington Mall.-1920-1940:...
.
He founded the (now-defunct) National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts.
Jerry Williams was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1996.